Rudder



Oct. 11, 1932. A. w. CROSS 1,882,357

RUDDER Filed Dec. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. W. CROSS Get. 11; 1932.

RUDDER Filed Dec. 27, 1950 2 Sheet-Sheet Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTVOFFICE j ALBERT W. CROSS, 01! LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMEBICAII SHIF BUILDING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY' 'RUDDER Application filed December 27, 1930. Serial in. 505,119.

This invention relates to screw-propelledv marine vessels and more particularly to an improved form of rudder.

The use of a balanced rudder and the advantages derived therefrom are now well understood in the operation of screw-propelled marine vessels. Moreover, it is now understood that certain advantages can be attained in the propulsion of marine vessels by the use of a balanced rudder of substantially stream-line shape. It is also characteristic of the operation of screw-propelled marine vessels that a periodic intervals the propeller tail-shaft must be withdrawn to permit inspection and care of the bearing forthis shaft. lVith the old plate or blade type of balanced rudder, this operation could be performed without placing the vessel in dry dock by simply trimming the vessel to bring the propeller hub above the water line, and swinging the rudder toa hard-over position to afford clearance for withdrawing the tailshaft with the propeller thereon. However,

when vessels are equipped with balanced rudders of the stream-line shape, the thickness of the bulging forward portion of the rudder prevents the withdrawal of the tail-shaft in this manner, and heretofore in the case of vessels equipped with rudders of this kind, it has been necessary, in caring for these tail-shaft bearings, for ship owners to take undesirable and costly steps, such as placing the vessels in dry doc-ks or upon marine railways.

Therefore, to obviate such disadvantages, it an object of this invention to provide a rudder having atail-shaft clearance'recess The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a rudder embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view takenon line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional plan views taken respectively on lines 33 and 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the rudder shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig; 6 is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings to which detailed referenceiwill presently be made, I have shown a portion of the stern of a screw-propelled vessel equipped with the stream-line rudder of my invention, but before proceeding with a detailed description of this improved rudder, it should be understoodthat my invention may be embodied in other rudders thanthe particular one which is shownherein for the purpose of illustration. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown the stern post 10 of a vessel which is adapted to be propelled by the screw-propeller 11-,- and to be steered by the balanced stream lin-e rudder 12. As is usual, this propeller is keyed to a tail-shaft 13 which extends into the stern tube of the vessel and is retained on this shaft by the nut 14.

The rudder, which is pivotally supported just rearwardly of the propeller, comprises a watertight hollow structure of substantially stream-line form. That is to say, this structure. as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4', is provided with a bulging forward portion which is substantially parabolic in cross-sectional shape, and an elongatedrear portion tapering to a thin knife edge at the rear thereof. This hollow rudder structure is" preferably formed by securing curved side plates 15' to a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal reenforcing frames 1 6 which may be formed by bending sections of angle iron to appropriate shape. In forming this structure, the

outer wall may be formed by a single plate shaped to fit around the reenforcing forms, or, if desired, may be formed as shown 1n the drawings, from several plates which are secured to the reenforcing frames and which have .their adjacent edges welded together to provide flush watertight seams.

The horizontal reenforcing frames 16 are provided in suitable number to give the structure the desired strength, and are themselves reenforcedand held in properly spaced relation by the vertical angle iron frames or stifieners 17- to which they are secured. The curved plate 18 which forms the bulging forward portion of the structure, is reenforced and secured to curved angle iron frame members 19 arranged substantially in allgnment -with the frame members 16, and is also secured along its rear edges to the vertical stifl'eners 17. Along the rear edge of the structure, the ends of the angle irons form ing the frame members 16 are secured together with liner wedges 20 therebetween. The

extreme rear edges of the side plates 15 extend beyond the rear ends of the frame members 16, and are secured to opposite sides of a vertical edge plate 21.

T0 provide the structure with additional reenforcing and to divide the same into cells or compartments, I provide the transversely extending vertical division plate or bulkhead is substantially the same as has been used heretofore. .However, according tomy invention I provide the rudder structure or 7 body with upper and lower cover members and 26. The cover member 26 is preferably a plate which closes the lower end of the rudder body and is provided on its under-surface with a fitting 27. This fitting is formed with a pintle 28 which engages in the socket of the integral shoe 29 extending rearwardly from the stern post- 10 to provide a pivotal connection for the lower end of the rudder body. The cover member 25 which closes the upper end of the rudder body, is preferably made of cast steel and is rigid and comparatively heavy so that when secured to the rudder body, turning moments can be transmitted to the upper endthereof by the rudder stock 30.

The rudder stock extends through a bearing 7 member 31 carried by the stern post 10, in

substantial axial alignment with the pintle 28, and is provided at its lower end with a foot portion 32 for connection with the cover member 25. To provide an interengaging connection between this foot portion and the cover member 25 so that all of the force required for actuating the rudder can be supplied to the rudder body at the upper end thereof, I form the foot portion with a keyway or slot therein in which the key 33 engages. This key may be formed as a separate part, but is preferably in the form of a tongue which is integral with the cover member 25.

As another, and perhaps the more important feature of my invention, I provide the forwardly bulging part of this watertight rudder structure with a removable section 34 which is located substantially in alignment with the tail-shaft 13. This removable section is preferably constructed in the form of a curved plate, which when secured in place, conforms with the stream-line shape of the structure. This plate forms a watertight clo sure for an opening provided through the Wall ofthe rudder structure and is removably secured in place as by means of the countersunk screws 35. For making a water-tight connection between this cover plate and the wall plate 18 of the rudder structure,

suitable gasket material 36. may be used, such as fabric impregnated with red lead.

When it becomes necessary or desirable to inspect or care for the bearing of the tailshaft 13, the vessel is'trimmed to bring the hub portion of the propeller 11 above the f propeller and the tail-shaft upon which it 7 is mounted are moved rearwardly to afford access to the stern tube. The clearance provided by this recess or opening into the rudder structure permits the propeller and the tail-shaft to be moved rearwardly a sufficient distance to afford access to the stern tube bearing andenables the workman to inspect and care for the same. After the work to be performed upon the .stern tube bearing is completed, the tail-shaft and propeller are moved forwardly into their normal position and the cover plate 34 is again clamped in place to form a watertight closurefor the clearance opening in the wall of the rudder 7 able section which closes such opening and conforms to the stream-line shape of the rudder structure. When equipped with this type of balanced stream-line rudder, it is not necessary for vessels to be placed in dry dock or upon marine railways in order to care for, or make periodic inspections of, the stern tube bearing. It will also be readily understood from the rudder construction which I have disclosed, that turning moments for actuating the rudder can be applied to the upper end of the rudder body by the rudder stock without the need of extending this member or providing shafting of any kind in the interior of the rudder body.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the rudder of my invention, it should be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise details of construction shown and described, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7 V

1. A balanced rudder comprising a watertight hollow structure of substantially stream-line shape having a tail-shaft clearance opening through the leading wall thereof, and removable means normally forming a watertight closure for said opening.

2. A balanced rudder comprising a watertight hollow structure of substantially stream-line shape having a tail-shaft clearance opening through the leading wall thereof, and a curved removable plate section normally forming a water tight closure for said opening and conforming to the stream-line shape of said structure.

3. In a balanced stream-line rudder the combination of a rudder body, and vertically aligned pivotal supporting means thereon, said rudder body comprising reenforcing means, a curved integral plate shell secured thereto and having a rounded leading edge which is notched out intermediate said supporting means, and a similarly curved removable section secured to said integral plate shell and forming a cover for the notched out portion.

4. In a balanced stream-line rudder, the combination of a rudder body, and stock and pintle members secured respectively to the top and bottom of said body for pivotally supporting the same, said rudder body comprising plate and reenforcing members forming a tapered portion extending rearwardly from the axis of said stock and pintle members, and a curved plate member extending forwardly of said axis forming the leading edge of said body and having its vertical edge portions connected with saidrearwardly extendlng tapered portion, said curved plate member being notched out intermediate its signature.

ALBERT W. GROSS. 

